Resilient support



; July 24, 1928..

R. W. DAVIS RESILIENT SUPPORT Original Filed March 51, 1925 IN V EN TOR 2 0M h. War/1s A TTORNE Y Patented July 24, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TO HIMSELF AND ZENO RESILIENT SUPPORT.

Application filed March 31, 1923, Serial No. 629,088. Renewed October 31, 1927.

tween the frame of a wheeled vehicle and its axles.

It is a well-known fact that the so-called elliptical and cantilever vehicle springs, which are built up of several leaves, have to be made quite heavy in order to resist the depressing loads commonly imposed thereon, and the sudden impacts to which they are frequently exposed. This is because only the remote fibres in any of the leaves are appreciably strained, as each one of the latter is subjected to bending. The load stress which the fibres near the middle section of a leaf have to withstand is a negligible factor. The superimposition or laminated disposition of the leaves is predetermined by structural conditions limiting the width of;

the spring employed, and does in no manner aid the same in carrying its load. A single, triangular leaf spring, having at its point of anchorage the aggregate width of all the laminae in a built-up spring, would be just as effective, if the available space permitted such an arrangement of parts under ordinary conditions. VVhether the several sections of the spring be placed in sidewise or superimposed relation, it is the distance intervening between the fibres exposed to tension and compression alone that is of material import.

This being premised, the invention has for its object, primarily, to produce a resilicnt support composed of elements capable, respectively, of discharging the functions of the fibres that are subjected to tension and compression in a leaf pertaining to a spring of the class above mentioned.

A secondary object is the production of a resilient support of the character described wherein the uni-directional tension and compression stresses shall be carried by separate members, the tension in one causing compression in the other, and vice versa.

A third object in producing a device of the nature set forth is to construct the same in such a manner that the fibres in the loadcarrying elements can be stressed up to the limit of elasticity of the material of which they are composed, without any of them taking a permanent set.

A fourth ob ect is to provide a device of the type aforesaid wherein the entire primary fibre stresses shall be divided between a pair of load-carrying elements normally spaced apart.

A fifth object is the provision of a device of the kind specified, from which shall be eliminated such fibres as hitherto were located in what is known as the neutralzone, and wherein all of the shear resulting from the tension and compression will be carried by the end connections of the associated elements.

A sixth object, in providing a device of the species referred to, is so toconstruct it that the same tension and compression will prevailthroughout the entire cross-sectional areas of the respective elements, and simi larly that the longitudinal stresses to which the iatter' are subjected may not vary therein from one end to the other.

A seventh object is to supply a device of the genus alludedto, the organism whereof will develop a resisting moment uniformly increasing as the load moment becomes greater thereon. v

An eighth object in supplying a device of the sort indicated, is to combine the members thereof in such a way as will enable the elements carrying the tension and compression stresses to be flexibly connected to one another, as also to their respective supports.

A ninth object is to devise an arrangement of the load-carrying elements in the said resilient support whereby the lines of forcepassing therethrough shall always be in con verging relation to each other.

A tenth ob'ject,in devising the said sup port, is to evolve a construction permitting the elements through which the compression stresses pass to serve as radius rods for the wheels of the vehicle or other structure wherein the invention is embodied.

An eleventh object is to afford a device for the purpose contemplated the various elements of. which shall'be relieved of either torsional or bending stresses.

A twelfth object is to furnish an imto produce, install and maintain in working condition; not liable to get out of order; and amenable besides to low cost of manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the specification proceeds.

WVith the aforesaid objects in view, the invention consists of the novel combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described in their preferred embodiments, pointed out in the subjoined claims, and illusti ated on the annexed drawing, wherein like parts are designated by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

In the said drawing,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a resilient support embodying one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section on the line 22 of Fig. 1, looking towards the left;

Fig. 3 is a partial section of a detail appearing in Fig. 1, the section being taken on the line 33 of the said figure, looking 1n a downward direction;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan View of the same form of the improved device, looking down upon the top thereof, some parts of the supporting structure being shown in section and others omitted, while certain other parts pertaining to the carried members,

that are hidden from view in Fig. 1, havebeen indicated;

Fig. 5 is a partial elevation of a detail included in Figs. 1 and 4, looking at the same from the right-hand side thereof; and

Fig. 6 is afragmentary horizontal section of the latter-named detail, the section being taken along the irregular line 66 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the down wardly pointed arrows.

Succinctly outlined, the improved resilient support forming the subject-matter hereof comprises a member composed of load-carrying elements, applicable for in stance to the frame of a vehicle, to which their inner ends are connected in spaced relation, while they converge together at the outer extremities. One of these elements is designed to resist all of the compression stresses, and another takes care of the total tension, both stresses being in all instances uni-directional. The latter element consists preferably of a wire or band whose inherent extensile and contractile properties furnish, up to a safe elastic limit, the required resiliency to sustain the imposed load stresses. The compression element, while proportioned to resist buckling, is intended to yield slightly under an endwise stress transferred thereto by the tension element. The latter in turn receives retroactive stresses from the former. The connection between these elements and their anchorages on the vehicle frame consist of pivot-pins, which impart to free or outer end of the aforementioned member, the compression element of which is arranged to compensate at its inner or connected end for the lateral tilting of the axle when the wheels thereof pass over inequalities in the roads surface. Means are provided for keeping the tension element initially taut, and the same are so constructed as to permit ready insertion or removal thereof, whenever required.

The advantages of the invention as here outlined are best realized when all of its features and instrumentalities are combined in the one and same structure, but, useful devices may be produced embodying less than the whole.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, upon becoming conversant with thedetails thereof, that the same may be incorporated in several different constructions. The accompanying drawing, therefore, is submitted merely as showing the preferred exeinplification of the invention.

Referring now to the several views of the annexed drawings, for a detailed description of the invention, it will be noted that capital letters are employed to designate the known parts of an automotive vehicle, and the same, as used herein, are meant to indicate as well other existing primary and secondary structures to which this improved device is applicable, that is, such parts and structural entities as are not deemed to pertain to the present improvements, except in so far as they may form therewith legitin'iate combinations of elements capable of yielding novel and useful results. On the other hand, the several parts, elements, and members identified with the said improvements, are denoted by reference numerals in the approved manner.

Pursuant, therefore, to the mode of notation herein adopted, A represents one of the frame members of an automobile chassis, and B, one of the wheels upon which the latter is mounted. As will be noticed, the tire only of the wheel is shown, in Figs. 1 and l, the spokes and hub being omitted to give a clearer view of the parts of the invention that would otherwise be concealed thereby.

Other parts that will be recognized as belonging to the ordinaryinotor vehicle are a differential geancase C; a covering D, around one of the customary universal joints; and tubular extensions E, reaching out from the opposite sides of the gear-case,

and within which run the usual divided driving shafts for the wheels.

At a SPGCll'lOCl distance from either extenlee sion E, forwardlythereof on the frame member A, is attached a bracket 11, which as shown includes oppositely disposed cheekpieces 12, having each a depending lug, as 13. The checks 12 are designed to embrace the channel-beam generally constituting the aforesaid frame member, the former being held fast to the latter, as by bolts 15, that pass through blocks 16, interposed between the vertical web and horizontal flanges of the said beam. A U-shaped bolt 17 takes over the top and sides of the frame member, directly in front of the bracket 11, and the dual shanks of this bolt are passed through ear extensions of the said cheeks 12, as indicated at 18, in Fig. 1. The ears 18, as there shown, are formed in the cheek-pieces at points below the lower horizontal flange of the channel-beam. The U-shaped bolt serves to hold the bracket firmly against tilting, such as might be caused by a force directed at the lugs 13.

The above mentioned lugs are bored through at certainintervals apart, and also at some distance from the underside of the said frame member, to receive pin-connections 20 and 21, the purpose of which will now be explained. The pin 20 has a working fit, which may be either in an eye 22, or in the lugs 13. The part 22 is formed with a shoulder portion 23, which abuts against the adjacent end of a strut 25, preferably of channel or U-section and constituting a compression element of the device herein described. From the inner face of the shoulder 23 projects a shank 26, which is journalled so as to rock within a block 27, securedas by rivets 28 interiorly of the near end of the strut. and safely maintained in association therewith by a nut 29, though the latter does not interfere with a twisting movement of the compression element 25 at right angles to the axis of the pin 20, nor with a swinging motion therearound. The

' underside of the block 27, which depends below the strut 25, is provided with a groove 30, the purpose whereof will later be referred to herein.

A carrier 32, bounded by the web and flanges of the strut 25, beforementioned, is afixed to the free or outer extremity thereof, as by rivets 33. Longitudinally through the middle of this carrier runs a passageway 34, forming ledges 35, on opposite sides. which extend in the shape of ears rearwardly, and also downwardly to provide depending ribs 36, that are curved centrally upward to conform to the exterior of thecontiguous tubular extension E, of the gear-case C. The ex tension is held in contact with the concaved portion of these ribs, as by means of U-bolts 38, taking under it and having their shanks passed through a plate 39. that overlies the surface of the strut 25. The bolts'38 are located one on each side of the strut, and serve nection. The sleeve and collar are composed of conjoined halves presenting a through aperture adapted to receive one end of a slender rod or heavy wire, as 45, constituting the tension element of the improved device, which element was previously referred to, and runs through the passageway 34, in the carrier 32, as seen in Fig. 1, on the right-hand side. The outer face of the collar is formed with a countersunk seat 46, against which is lodged a head or abutment 47 incorporated in the extremity of the rod or wire. The opening made in the pin 41, for the sleeve 42', is of a size sufficiently large to permit free passage of the said head therethrough.

The opposite or inner end of the tension element 45 is also provided with a head 50, similar to that above described, which abuts against a split collar 51, resting upon a shoulder 52, formed intermediate of differently sized recesses 53 and 54, that are provided centrally of a sleeve 55, constituting a forward extension of the said collar. The sleeve 55 is exteriorly threaded and passes through a clearance hole bored transverse- 1y of a yoke 57. The latter has oppositely disposed trunnions comprised in the before mentioned pin connection 21. 'These trunnions are oscillatably journalled in the lugs '13, likewise previously spoken of herein. A

nut 58 serves to draw up the threaded sleeve 55, so asto put an initial tension on the rod or wire 45, in order to prevent rattling thereof, as well as to take up any stretching or elongation of the same. To obviate turning of the sleeve, when the nut is rotated, its outer end is provided with a finger 59. positioned to enter the groove 30,'previously mentioned, and to slide therein as the nut is being tightened.

It will now be plainly seen that at such times as it becomes necessary or desirable to insert or remove the tension element 45, all that is required is to take off the nut 58 and push the sleeve 55 back until the head 50 of the rod or wire and the split collar 51 slide out of the recess 54. Similarly at the outer end, as soon as'the split sleeve 42 and its collar 43 are pushed out of their recesses in the pin 41, their respective halves can be separated, and the tension rod or wire pulled through.

At 61 is indicated a strap, which is suspended from the frame member A, and takes under the subjacent axle housing or tubular extension E of the gear-case C. This strap, it will be understood, is designed, to prevent tension elements 25 the housing and. the rearwardly disposed parts of the resilient support that bear thereon from dropping below a certain position, relatively to the lateral member of the chassis thereabove.

In order to stay the resilient support, and consequently protect it against excessive vibration, the inner or connected end thereof is coupled up with the running-gear of the vehicle at the rear. This is conveniently effected through the agency of a tie-wire, as 63, anchored at one end to the differentialgear case C, and thence reaching in an oblique direction forwardly and outwardly to a point on the median line of the element 25, a short distance from the block 27, where it is fastened.

From the foregoingit will be seen that the improved resilient support herein disclosed comprises a triangular structure, the longer sides whereof consist of the compression and and 45, respectively, which are connected by the pin 41, at the apex of the triangle. Thence the said elements diverge towards a common base rep resented by the short line or distance intermediate the pin-connections 20 and 21, here inbefore described. Such a structure doubtless could be practically rigid, unless one of its components were designed to yield. Considered as a cantilever beam, the connection or member in question obviously is supported at the points 20 and 21. and weighted at or near the point 41, although reversely the load is imposed on the frame member A, and the wheel B carries the same, by holding up the axle E. If an upwardly acting force is applied at the point 41, such as will effect a swinging movement of the triangular structure about the pivots or pin connections 20 and 21, as fulcrums, thereby tending to dis tort the triangle, a considerable amount of oscillation can take place, and yet produce only a small increase in the length of the lower one of the triangles longer sides, namely, that represented by the tension ele ment 45, this being due to the shortness of the triangle base, that is, the basal distance between the superposed fulcra 20, 21. But, the elongation thus caused is calculated to remain safely within the elastic limit of the material from which the tension element is made. Precisely the same condition obtains in the ordinary flat spring built up of several leaves, the difference being that each leaf is subjected to both tension and compression. In the resilient support forming the subject matter hereof, only one kind. of stress can occur in each element entering into the formation of the structure. The strut 25, as its name-implies, is exposed to compression solely, and the rod or wire 45 to elongation alone, while the basal distance or portion between the pins 20, 21, is'in shear. If a proper regard is bad for safety in choosing the rod or wire for the tension element, it stands to reason that it will extend and contract by virtue of its inherent resiliency as the load stresses thereon vary from maximum to minimum. The tension occasioned in the rod or wire by the upward swing of the strut 25 naturally induces compression in the latter, and reversely, the resistance to a compressive stress by the strut retroactive-- ly increases the tensile stress in the rod or wire. The intent of the invention is that the fibre stresses in both of the compr ssion and tension elements shall be appreciable, although keeping within the safe elastic limits of the materials of which they are composed.

It will be observed that, as all of the tension and compression stresses are divided between separate elements, thelatter can be made much lighter than the common elliptical or cantilever leaf springand still retain an equivalent strength. Besides, the excess .of material required for the spring in the neutral zone thereof intervening between the oppositely stressed fibres, and which practically is of little or no use, is avoided. Of course, this efiects a saving in both material and manufacturing costs, and also diminishes the weight of the product.

Neither the compression nor the tension element of this improved device is subjected to bending-or torsion, the stress in each being always in one direction. The resisting'moment of the resilient support under consideration increases uniformly as the load moment therein becomes, greater, due to the fact that the tension and compressionelements composing the same diverge from their meeting point, which is the point of reaction (application of the load), towards their respective anchorages, where they are spaced apart. The spacing or spread of the elements, just referred to, is predetermined both by the safe elastic elongation of the tension, element and the equally safe compressible limit of the strut element. And, the proportion between basal and leverage distances is dependent upon the working limit (resilient travel) of the resilient support at the point of application of the load andthe amount of resilience possessed by its said elements.

It is apparent that the flexible oryielding nature of the pivotal connections 20, 21 and 41, having their hearings in the elements 25 and 4-5 and in the anchorages 13, acting in conjunction with the extensile and, contractile properties of the tension element 45, makes it possible for the resilient member or support, considered in its entirety, to fill the function of a spring for either vehicular or other purposes.

lVhile a certain preferred embodiment of this device has been shown and described, it will. be understood that changes in the form, arrangements, proportions, sizes and details thereof may be made, without departing...

from thescope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having described my, invention What I desire to secure-by Letters Patent and claim,

1. A resilient support including a member composed of separate elements adapted for subjection throughout. to unidirectional stresses of tension and compression, respectively, said elements being proportioned so as to yield \ithin predetermined limits under a load imposed on said member.

2. A resilient support including a member composed of separate elements respectively exposed in every part thereof to unidirectional tension and compression stresses resulting from the imposition of a load on said member, one of said elements admittingoi individual elongation underthe Weight of the load, and of subsequent contraction.

3. A resilient support including a member composed of elements connected to each other at adjacent ends and adapted respectively to sustain uni-directional tension and compression stresses from end to end thereol', said elements admitting of being'subjected to distortion intermediately of their respective connections.

i. A resilient support including a member composed of connected elements respectively stressed by uni-directional tension and compression all the Way through due to imposition of a load on said member, the v tensioned element varying in length according to the Weight of the load.

A resilient support including a member composed of connected elements capable of sustaining from one end to the other uni-directional stresses of tension and compression, respectively, the eXtensile and contractile properties of the tensioned element being functioned to furnish the required resiliency. Y I

6. A resilient support including a member composed of connected elements capable of sustaining throughout uni-directional stresses oftension and compression, respectively, the tensioned element being arranged for elongation between its own connections.

7. A resilient support including elements respectively arranged for subjection solely to uni-directional tension and compression stresses, the cross-sectional areas of each element being proportioned throughout so as to enable each element to Withstand equally throughout its length the stresses thereto applied.

8. A resilient support including elements arranged for subjection solely to uni-directional tension and compression stresses, re spectively, each of these latter being in the ame longitudinal direction from one end to the other of the elements subjected thereto.

9. A resilient support including elements arranged for subjection solely to uni-directional tension and compression stresses respectively, said elements being respectively designed to permit stressing of their fibres up to a predetermined limit.

10. A resilient support including elements arranged for subjection solely to uni-direc member, the adjacent ends being held against movement relative to' each other longitudinally of the support, the members being held a fixed distance apart at another 'pointin their length.

13. A resilient support including a triangulated member composed of converging elements sustained at some distance apart from each other on a common base line, said elements being severally adapted to resist uni-directional stresses of tension and compression, respectively, and arranged to carry an imposed load near their meeting ends, While their diverging ends are maintained atthe basal distance set therebetween.

14. A resilient support including a member composed of elements capable of being subjected solely to uni-directional stresses of tension and compression respectively, said elements being spaced apart and combined in such a manner as to omit from the neutral zone therebetween any surplus material apportioned to said member.

15. A resilient support including, in combination With the chassis of an automotive vehicle and an axle thereof, a member composed of elements adapted respectivelyto withstand solely uni-directional stresses of tension and compression, said member eonstituting one of the radius rods intermediate said chassis and said axle.

16. A resilient support including a tri angulated member composed of converging elements yieldably connected at their meeting ends so as to sustain an imposed load causing solely uni-directional tension and compression stresses respectively therein, said elements having their divergent extremities linked in spaced relation to a common base which is subjected mainly to shearing action.

17. A resilient support including a member composed of elements linked in spaced ofit'set relation at one of its extremities to a base, one of said elements comprlslng a strut,

a load-carrier atthe free end thereof, yieldable anchorages on sa1d base and said car rier, and means with said anchorages affording detachable connections-for the other element, the latter being functioned to sustain the tensional stresses produced by the load, both said strut and said other element being each subjected solely to a unidirectional stress.

18. A resilient support including elements adapted respectively for subjection throughout touni-directional tension. and compression stresses, pivotal means intermediate said elements and a'base therefor, and take-up means iorapplying aninitial stress to the tensioned element.

'19, A resilient support including elements adaptedrespectively for subjection to uni directional tension and compression stresses throughout, pivotal means intermediate said elements and a 'base' therefor, one of the means comprising a take-up for the element receiving the tension.

20. A resilient support including a member composed of pivotally connected element-s designed respectivelyto Withstand uni-directional stresses throughout of tension and compression, one" of said elements being oscillatable about its pivot and also at right angles to the same. 1

21. A resilient support includinga mem ber composed "of pivotally connected elements designed respectively to Withstand unidirectional stresses of tension and compression throughout, one of saidelements comprising a strut having articulated motion in intersecting planes at its point of connection pression resisting element having an articu lated connection at one end With the object to be supported, a carrier rigidly secured to the other end of said element, a tensionable element yieldably connected with the rigid end of the latter, and mean-s similarly joining said tensionable element to said object at a certain distance from said articulated connection, both the compression and tension element being respectively subjected solely to uni-directional stresses thruout.

24. A resilient support, including in combination With a vehicle frame and the run ning-gear thereof, a carrier aiiixed to the running-gear, a compression resisting element rigidly fastened to said carrier at one end, and flexibly attached at'the other end to a pendant of the vehicle frame, a tension abie element subtending said compression resisting element, and pivotal connections for the opposite extremities of said tensionable element, respectively joining the same to the rigid end of the first-named element and to said pendant,-both the compres sion resisting and the tensionable element being respectively subjected solely to uni-directional stresses thruout.

25. A resilient support including, in combination with a motor-vehicle frame member, a hanger depending therefrom, and a snbjacent axle housing, a carrier secured to one from the other, both the compression resisting and the tensionable element being respectively,sub ected solely to unl-directlonal stresses thruout.

ROBERT W. DAVIS. 

